Rams can’t keep up with Thunderbirds in Canada West playoff loss

While the University of Regina Rams exceeded expectations in 2022, they couldn’t overcome a familiar playoff foe on Saturday.

The Rams were the second-place team in Canada West football in the regular season, but they lost 28-14 to the UBC Thunderbirds in a semifinal at Mosaic Stadium.

“We didn’t score when we were in the red zone, we kicked too many field goals and they hit a couple big plays on us on defence,” said Rams head coach Mark McConkey.

“We showed our youth a little bit and a lack of playoff experience. We just didn’t play very well and you can’t do that in a playoff game.”

The Rams haven’t won a playoff game since 2012, a drought that includes losses to the Thunderbirds in 2016 (40-34) and 2017 (28-21). That latter game marked the last time the Rams were in the playoffs.

While the season ultimately ended in a loss, it was a year when the Rams put the rest of Canada West on notice.

The team came into the season ranked last in the coaches’ poll coming off a 1-5 2021 campaign. The Rams were dealt a blow when third-year quarterback Josh Donnelly got injured prior to the start of the season and ultimately missed the entire year. That meant the Rams turned to Noah Pelletier, a first-year quarterback.

“It’s a step in the right direction. We wanted to get back into playoffs. When you look back on this loss in a couple weeks, it was a positive season,” McConkey said. “We will get back to the drawing board, keep recruiting and keep our head down and keep working hard and getting better.”

Pelletier completed 15 of 32 pass attempts for 147 yards and an interception in his first playoff game.

The Rams’ only touchdown of the day came when UBC bobbled a snap on a field-goal try. That led to a fumble recovery by Rams defensive back Donovin Small, who returned it 58 yards for the touchdown.

Rams kicker Aldo Galvan made both his field-goal tries and a convert, and scored a single on the game’s opening kickoff.

The Thunderbirds took advantage of a costly fourth-quarter interception thrown by Pelletier that gave UBC the ball at the Rams’ four-yard line. UBC running back Lucas Mastrodomenico finished the drive with a score.

Earlier in the game, quarterback Derek Engel connected with Shemar McBean for a 46-yard touchdown. T-Birds tailback Dane Kapler put the finishing touches on the game with a 27-yard rushing touchdown late in the game.

The Thunderbirds also got points from two conceded safeties by the Rams and an Owen Brown field goal.

Earlier in the day, the Saskatchewan Huskies handled business at home when they defeated the Manitoba Bisons 37-9 in the other semifinal in Saskatoon.

Ethan Watson rushed eight times for 103 yards, with one- and 56-yard touchdown runs for the Huskies. Rhett Vavra caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Mason Nyhus, who was 16-for-28 passing for 153 yards.

David Solie kicked two field goals, three converts and two singles for Saskatchewan, which recorded four safeties.

Saskatchewan’s defence held Manitoba to just six first downs and 67 yards of net offence.

The Huskies are to host the Thunderbirds for the Hardy Cup on Nov. 12 at Griffiths Stadium.